Moccamaster KBGV Select

I’d been limping along with a generic $9 drip coffee maker for years, always putting off the research to find a good one. This year, I’d had enough of that cheap maker. I dove deep into researching SCA-approved brewers, binged YouTube videos, and read tons of reviews. After all that, I settled on the Technivorm Moccamaster, mainly because it’s not made in China, has a solid warranty, and offers parts and service through a U.S. location.At first, I was leaning toward the thermal carafe model. Coffee nerds kept saying glass carafes give coffee a burnt taste if it sits too long. I know that taste from a lifetime of glass carafe makers, but I rarely let coffee sit that long. If I do, I just brew a fresh pot. Plus, glass carafes are way cheaper to replace and easier to clean than those glass-lined thermal ones, which are also breakable but cost a lot more.The color choice was tough. I was leaning toward a safe, neutral one, but then I read a review (can’t find it now) that basically said: if you’re torn between a boring color and a bold one, go bold—you won’t regret it. That pushed me to pick the turquoise, and I’m obsessed with it. No regrets!I’m not a clean freak and never bothered to thoroughly clean my old coffee makers after every use. But this Moccamaster? It feels like it deserves the extra few seconds to stay spotless. It’s built to last years, and I want to keep it looking nice.Since I couldn’t see one in person before buying, I was a bit nervous about the plastic quality some folks complained about. Honestly, I don’t get the fuss—the plastic feels solid enough, not cheap or flimsy, and every part is replaceable through Amazon or Technivorm. The glass carafe does seem a tad thin, so I’m sure I’ll break it eventually. The carafe lid pops on and off super easily for cleaning. The water reservoir lid feels a little loose, but it’s not a big deal to me—what am I locking up in there?Heads-up: Moccamasters need coarsely ground coffee. If you’re using pre-ground grocery store stuff, you might want to pick a different SCA-approved brewer. I used to be a pre-ground coffee person too, but I switched to hand-grinding specialty beans right before getting this. I’ve accidentally ground too fine a couple of times, and it almost overflowed the filter basket—way too close for comfort.Some coffee gurus say to stir the grounds while brewing for the best extraction. I wasn’t planning to bother, but I’m usually nearby (I leave the filter lid off during brewing). When it’s down to about a cup left, I’ll give it a quick stir if I notice dry grounds near the filter basket handle. A few times, I forgot to stir until it was done, but when I checked, all the grounds were wet anyway. The coffee tasted just as good to me—I couldn’t tell the difference.Is this the ultimate coffee maker? I don’t know. But it feels well-made, I love how it looks, and the coffee it brews is fantastic. I think it’ll last for years. Would I pay full price? Probably not. Did I wait for a sale? Nope. I got an Amazon store card with a $100 instant gift card, which made it feel like a solid deal for a coffee maker I’m thrilled with.

The media could not be loaded. I've never spent this much on a coffee maker in my life and never thought I would. But I'm glad I did.I have had Cuisinart coffee makers for years and I am so tired of having to buy a new Cuisinart after a couple of years of use when it begins to malfunction. I have had to return brand new Cuisinart coffee makers as they didn't work right and then wait for the replacement. Don't know why I was so loyal to the brand. Maybe because they used to be much better and lasted longer.This Moccamaster has a five year warranty - that tells you something right there (don't forget to register yours if you purchase one - they have an online form). It's made in the Netherlands with meticulous crafting and testing. It's nice looking. It's easy to clean. It's fast. It makes hot coffee. It's smaller so it fits on my countertop nicely without taking up a lot of room.At first I wasn't sure if I'd like the Rose Gold even though it is pretty, but I've come to like it and it's a change from the stainless steel I've had for years. And, the Rose Gold was $60 less, so there's that!Keep in mind that though this carafe holds ten cups, this is ten 4 ounce cups, not 6-8 ounce mugs. Fine by me as I drink a few mugs in the morning and then I'm done, and I'm the only one drinking coffee.These take paper filters - I've used a gold filter for many years because I don't like tossing things in the landfill. However, two things: my gold filter does fit in there should I want to use it; and you can rinse the paper filters and reuse them a few times. Between those two things, less in the landfill.There is research to indicate that using paper filters doesn't affect your cholesterol levels like the gold permanent filters. So something to think about. However using the paper filters does affect taste to some degree - I have to get used to the more 'smoother' taste of the coffee without the oils. But on the good side, there's not the sludgy stuff at the bottom of my cup, and no coffee grounds escaping into my cup.Though it indicates to use fresh ground beans, I use both fresh ground and already ground. The fresh ground can taste better, but sometimes the already ground is convenient and easy and right there, and on sale.This is so easy to use right out of the box, once you put the parts in place.This is a no frills type coffee maker - there isn't a timer but I never used the timer on my Cuisinart, not once, so I don't miss that feature at all. There's no clock but why do I need a clock? I don't even have clocks in my house other than what is on my stove and cable box. There's two buttons: one to select half pot or full pot, and the on/off button.The plug is weird. You have to kind of turn it partially sideways. It was annoying at first but now I just do it and don't think about it. Cord is short, which I like. Hate snaking cords - I like the cord hidden behind the coffee maker and this one stays behind just great.What I also like is there isn't those two deep dark areas that are difficult to get to and clean like in the Cuisinart and many other coffee machines. No matter how much I cleaned the machine, I always wondered how clean it really was down in there where you pour the water and where the brewing happens I guess. Here you can see where the water is, and it only goes through the stainless steel 'arm' and then down the little funnel and into the grounds. Cleaning is simple. There is no coffee going inside the machine anywhere.They suggest descaling it about every 3 months using a descaler and not vinegar. I never liked to use vinegar anyway.Out of the box I 'brewed' water only 3 times (they suggest 2) to be sure any factory dust or whatever was gone.It's quiet. No loud beeping when it's done. No loud gargling gurgles. Though you can hear it gently brewing. And you can see the bubbles coming up in the water - it happens fast!Mine has a warming plate. I don't know if all of the models have it. The KBGV Select has a full pot or half pot selection. I used the half pot selection this morning when I brewed about a half pot and my coffee tasted better than when I used the full pot selection on half a pot - so it does something.I'm happy with mine and glad I finally purchased it after doing so much reading and research on coffee machines - for months! -- the Moccamaster kept coming up over and over in the Best Coffee Makers lists - and often number 1.If you are on the fence, hop on over, if you don't mind the price and don't mind it's a no-frills machine. The best part of it is the quality - I shouldn't have to buy another coffee machine for many many years!

After considerable research I decided to purchase a Moccamaster. The coffee machine I replaced was a conventional drip maker that was inconsistent in taste and I was looking for something that provides a quality cup of coffee. I knew exactly what to expect when it arrived and wasn’t surprised by the plastic parts or anything associated with the build. A major plus for me is the longevity of the company and replacement parts which are readily available if necessary. It’s simple to clean and has a cool retro look. I like the fact that it’s no frills, I don’t need another device that connects via blue tooth or requires an app. Low tech is better in this instance.Now the most important part that in my opinion is necessary for a quality cup of coffee. It’s a tremendous difference when you grind your own beans. I was purchasing ground coffee from a specialty shop and it wasn’t working in the Moccamaster. The coffee was coming out too weak, didn’t have a smooth taste and the flavors were muted. Grinding the beans solves the issue and you get the full flavor of the bean.What works for me when brewing is starting the unit and allowing it to drip just over the top of the grounds and then pausing. I let the coffee bloom for 30 seconds stir then finish the brew cycle.The finished cup of coffee is the perfect temperature and there is no hint of bitterness or sour notes. It’s a great addition to the morning with a quality cup of coffee.